The Star Online - Fall 2009
Events & News | Information & Resources | Stories | Opinion
Events & News
DDA Olympic Medalists
Congratulations, Tracy
New Chinese Website
We'll Miss You
DDA Olympic Medalists
By Victor Tang & Paulina Bravo
The 2009 Special Olympic BC Summer Games has just passed us by this summer. There were many amazing races and some wonderful results.
We'd like to congratulate Mark, who works as one of our couriers at the Developmental Disabilities Association, for winning two gold medals in swimming at the Special Olympics BC event held in Abbotsford, BC. His dedication and passion in the sport is exemplary and have paid off with gold medals to show.
We'd also like to congratulate Rosemary Groenewegen, who has been volunteering at Riverside Child Development Centre for 12 years. She told us that she was nervous at first, but by the second day, she got 4 medals: three 2nds and one 1st.
Congratulations again to both of you and all other participants in the Special Olympics on your amazing achievements!
After an intense summer, on August 23rd, Tracy Chand, aka Miss Petite Vancouver, came back as the 3rd Runner-Up for Miss Canada Petite Globe. There were a total of 21 delegates vying for the title of Miss Canada Petite. Because of her achievement, Tracy is now competing for Miss International Tourism 2010. Tracy has been advocating for the Developmental Disabilities Association for a long period of time. In our minds, she has already won the competition. We're very proud of Tracy's achievements, and we know she will go far from here. We'd like to extend both our congratulations and appreciation to Tracy. Check out her website at www.tracychand.com to see how you can show your support.
The Developmental Disabilities Association has just launched their new fully functional, Chinese translated website. Our Chinese website provides a new online resource that caters to our Chinese viewers. Survey results and anecdotal information led us to the decision to produce this website. We'd like to thank Quote EndQuote Cross-Cultural Strategy for their transliteration services on their website. Quote EndQuote, along with our dedicated multilingual staff at DDA, helped refine our translated website to reflect our audience best. Click the Chinese flag to change languages on our site, and click the Canadian flag to get back into the English site. If you have any questions or comments about the website, please direct them to communications@develop.bc.ca.
We'll Miss You
By Deanne Ziebart & Sharon Spartz
We were saddened to learn of the passing of Marion Foster on August 30, 2009. Many of our older clients and families remember Marion fondly as their first social worker at the old Vancouver Richmond Association for Mentally Handicapped People.
Marion was born in Calgary in 1917. In her teens, she relearned to walk after contracting polio. She went on to graduate with honours from UBC in social work and had a distinguished career with the YWCA, working in many parts of the Caribbean. She later moved back to Vancouver to be with her widowed mother and worked with our Association for many years until her retirement. She advocated and planned for numerous clients to transition from institutions, family homes and the old Oakridge School into our adult services. She was a champion for the physically and mentally disabled and continued to support and encourage many clients after her retirement. She received the Order of Canada for her humanitarian work and upon her retirement, the Association set up the Marion Foster Training Fund that sent several clients to college and vocational training. Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Wm. Elliot c/o DDA at #100-3851 Shell Road, Richmond, BC V6X 2W2.
We also announce with a heavy heart that Elizabeth Agnes McKinnon, a long time member of DDA has passed away this Spring. She was 87. She will be greatly missed.
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